Do other species communicate with us?

Eh? Have I taken leave of my senses? This is going to sound a bit "off the wall" but it is something that fascinates me so please bear with me.
A couple of years ago I was trimming a hedge in my garden. This was at the end of the bird nesting season so I was just tidying up the edges as I felt that I was not doing any harm to any wildlife. Suddenly a wasp landed on my hand. It didn't sting me but just "sat" there. I gently shook it off only to have it return and sting me. It was quite bizarre as the wasp appeared to deliberately come back to specifically sting me. For some reason this caused me to pause in the trimming and upon looking further along the hedge I discovered a well hidden wasp nest about 3 feet away. If the wasp had not stung me I would have cut straight into the nest with reuslts I would rather not thing about! To this day I am sure that the wasp was trying to warn me.
Interestingly a few years previously when I lived at another house we again discovered a wasp nest in the garden. This was in a tree and we didn't discover it until the autumn when the leaves came off. Strangely we had been sitting under this tree all summer without realising we had a wasp nest just feet above our heads! Obviously we didn't disturb the wasps and they didn't disturb us.
The same thing applies to ants. We have several quite large (by U.K. standards) ants nests in the garden. In fact one of our regular visitors expressed surprise at the number and size of the nests. The point is that despite having so many ants around they never come into the house whereas other people in the neighbourhood who have ants nests regard them as a nuisance. Despite putting down poison they keep entering their houses.
So do wasps,ants etc know who cares for them and leave us alone or am I just being fanciful?
I am still working steadily on my internet business whoisjohnbeaumont.com and is looking good.
Thought for today:- Do we care enough about our wildlife and do all we can to protect them?
Joke for today:- I grew up with six brothers. Thats how I learned to dance--waiting for the bathroom. Bob Hope
On this day:- In 1819 Queen Victoria was born
In 1941 Bob Dylan was born

Onward and upward

Over the weekend Sue and I went to the old Snibston Colliery for a special event involving vintage transport. The site, which closed down in the 1980's, is now a very interesting museum.

I had to laugh as I could remember most of the cars on show being released new! That dates me.
This brought home to me how time flies. The number of things I was going to do in my life which never got done because I put it off until tomorrow. As they say tomorrow never comes.
However in my case I don't think it is too late to still achieve most of them so I'm going for it!
Are you?
This is why instead of sitting with my feet up in retirement I am pushing ahead with my internet business. Look me up if you want to see my progress at www.whoisjohnbeaumont.com. Nudge nudge.
Thought for today: Are you putting something important off until tomorrow that you could do today. Even telling your partner/kids that you love them?
Joke for today: Life may not be worth living but what else can you do with it?
On this day 17th May:-
In 1861 the first "package" holiday organised by Thomas Cook took place. On the same day the first colour photograph was exhibited at the Royal Institution in London
In 1510 Botticelli died.
In 1900 Mafeking was relieved. Colonel Robert Baden-Powell (of scouting fame)was in charge of the defence of Mafeking

Are we allowed to take enough risks?

Hi friends
Are we allowed to take enough risks in life? The reason I ask is that last week a cadet on a sailing ship unfortunately died after falling from the rigging. Very sad.
However I think that todays youth do not get enough opportunity to test themselved because of the 'elf and safety brigade.
When I was at school in the 1950's I joined the cadet force. Initially we spent a year in the army detachment before we could choose to either stay on the army side or transfer to the navy or airforce branches.
During the first year we went on quite realistic army excercises which included being issued with live ammunition. We had live firing on full scale long range butts. When not firing we were based underneath the targets with pointers to show whoever was firing where their bullet went. Very exciting for a fourteen year old!
The following years I went to sea when on annual camp. This involved climbing up a rope ladder in the middle of the ocean from a small boat onto a frigate. The sea was quite choppy as well.
One time we climbed up onto HMS Blackpool. This was in 1958 and Blackpool was a brand new frigate at the time just undergoing her sea trials. Whilst we were on her she fired her brand new anti submarine mortars for the first time. These were the latest state of the art weapons then so just before they fired them we were all told to flatten ourselves face down on the deck in case bits of metal flew off.
I don't think that many youngsters get the same opportunities today.
Still I now get excitement from building my internet business whoisjohnbeaumont.com instead.
Thought for today. Did you take any exciting (but legal/moral) risks today?
Joke for today:- Last week I replaced every window in my house. Then I discovered I had a crack in my glasses.
On this day 10th May:- In 1849 troops opened fire on a rioting crowd in Ney York killing 22 people.
In 1940 Winston Churchill became Prime Minister replacing Chamberlain
In 1863 Stonewall Jackson died from wounds obtained from friendly fire

Strictly for the birds

I noticed today how the feeding patterns of the birds visiting my garden had changed.
During the winter I had lots of finches visiting and eating the niger seed I had put out. The last week or so they haven't been near the place. On the other hand I hardly saw a sparrow all winter and now there are quite a few coming to the garden. ( I have put out the same mixture of bird food all the time) I suppose there must be alternatives to my fare. Talk about fairweather friends!
When I used to do security work at night it always fascinated me to see that the blackbirds were always still "working" at dusk and that they were the first birds to be seen at dawn. No I'm not being racist here but I wonder if their colour has something to do with this? Perhaps being black gives them more scope to work in safety with diminishing light?
Hey Chris has been a busy boy. He has been helping me with my website www.whoisjohnbeaumont.com and doing an excellent job putting some things together for me.
So my thought for today:- Do we really appreciate what others do for us or do we sometimes take help too much for granted?
Joke for today:- This is an important announcement for drivers travelling on the M62 to London.
The M62 doesn't go to London. Boom boom.
On this day: 30th April
In 1945 Hitler committed suicide
In 1789 Washington became president. Bet not many people know that he started the war between France and Britain when he was a British officer.

Democracy. Just a myth?

Hey I was thinking about my last blog and my thoughts turned to democracy.

Are we a democratic society still? In fact have we ever been?

The reason I ask is that in the U.K. at the present time there is a lot of talk abour recycling.

In my area we already have 4 systems for rubbish or as our American friends would say garbage.

One bin is for garden rubbish which can be composted. A second is for glass/old clothing. The third is for plastic/paper and last but not least is the bin for material that cannot be recycled.

However there was an article in the paper recently where it was stated that we could all end up with 8 or 9 bins/bags for different types of recycled material. We will need a degree in recycling soon!!

Now I am all for recycling where possible but my point is that a large proportion of the populace is up in arms about it. They don't want 8/9 bins!

So? My question is then why should we be made to follow this line. If we are a democratic society then we tell the authorities that it is not acceptable. Ah but this is E.U. legislation. Hey the E.U. is supposed to be democratic isn't it?

The same argument applies to speed cameras. Most people appear to doubt their effect (apart from raising extra money!) and want them removed. This does not appear to be happening though so where is democracy?

Enough of my rant. Let's be cheerful. At least we can afford all the consumer goods which are then recycled and own cars which can break speed limits. Many people in the world would love these benefits.
Chris has done some more work on my website www.whoisjohnbeaumont.com and I have written another mini article
Thought for today: Who you are and who you will become is up to you
Joke for today: A frog's perspective on life: time's fun when you're having flies. (Think about it)
On this day: 28th April
In 1945 Mussolini was killed
In 1789 the mutiny on the Bount took place
In 1770 Captain Cook lands in Botany Bay

The Election...snore

Hi there

Hey isn't the UK election getting exciting. Well isn't it? Only another fortnight and it will all be over. Or will it. If we have a hung parliament then we will have to suffer more agonies.
The strange thingabout ,politiciansthis election (which I have found so noticable when compared with past ones) is the lack of people showing their "colours". For example in my town I have only seen one house where they have put up a flier in their window showing for whom they will vote.
In all my years I have never seen this before. Normally a lot of houses have fliers in their windows and also on their car windows. I wonder why this is. Why are people so reluctant to show who they will vote for this time? The trouble is I think that following the expenses debacle politicians are now held in far less regard. This is a pity since they are all that stand between us and anarchy. So yes I will be voting because I feel it is important to recognise that our ancestors had to fight to get the vote and by not voting I feel we are letting them down.
Who to vote for though. Well that's another matter!
Chris is doing some more work for me on my website www.who isjohnbeaumont.com. Looking good

Thought for today: Do you appreciate what your ancestors had to fight for? Give thanks that many of the things we take for granted today have only happened because some people stuck their neck out for them.
Joke for today: If builders built houses the way lawyers write laws then the first woodbecker to come along would destroy civilisation.
On this day: 23rd April
Hey it's St Georges Day. The patron saint of England
In 1616 a gentleman of the theatre called Mr William Shakespeare died at the age of 52 Strange coincidence. On the same day in 1616 Miguel de Cervantes author of Don Quixote also died.

The Blitz remembered

Hi friends
At present on UK TV they are celebrating (surely that's NOT the right word!) the fact that it is 70 years since the UK suffered the blitz.
Whilst the armed forces have received many accolades for the work they carried out I don't think the civilian population received as much praise as they should have done. Most of the images you now see are of people stoically surviving in the underground tube stations in London although of course many other towns and cities were bombed very badly too.
However we seem to hear very little about the civilians who had to "carry on" throughout the raids.
Take my mum and dad for example. They were both fire watchers. In fact my dad had just retired at 65 years old and instead of sitting in front of the fire with his pipe and slippers he was on top of Hackney Town Hall ( a borough in the east end of London) helping direct the fire sevices to where they were needed most. "Hairy" or what? Imagine being on top of one of the tallest local buildings with bombs falling all around. My mum was there too and she told me but for going into a neighbours shelter on the first air raid she never went in one again. Prefered to take her chance in the open. They were both trained to enter burning buildings to rescue people who were trapped without all the equipment taken for granted now. The "elf" and safety brigade would have kittens now! However after having a couple of hours "shut eye" mum had to be up to go to work. After a raid the communication systems particularly transport were in chaos and mum often had to walk from the east end where she lived to the west end of London where she was seconded to The Ministry of Supply. Can you imagine scuttling passed burning buildings tripping over fireman's hoses to get to work and not even knowing if your work place would still be there. One day she had to wake up a fireman up who had gone to sleep directing his hose on a burning building. The poor man was utterley exhausted. It didn't help that mum then pointed out flames coming from another source!
Hey I think someone should make a film about all these unsung heros. The didn't even get any medals.
Thought for today: Did you manage to get to work today without dodging a burning building? Yes? Then it was a great day wasn't it.
Joke for today:- Did you here about the guy who lost his left leg and left arm in an accident?
His all right now.
On this day:- 19th April
In 1775 the first skirmishes of The American War of Independence broke out at Lexington Green.
In 1956 Grave Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco.
IN 1882 Charles Darwin died